Kristoffer Lewandowski faces life in prison for treating his PTSD with marijuana.

UPDATE July 15, 2015: While he could still face charges in a military court, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kristoffer Lewandowski no longer faces potential life imprisonment under multiple felony charges for possession of marijuana, which his wife insists he was growing to treat severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the Free Kris Facebook page, Lewandowski was extradited from California to Oklahoma on July 9. Four other inmates being transferred alongside the veteran were injured during an accident that supporters called an act of deliberate violence. But good news came on Wednesday, when Ricardo Pereyda, an organizer from the Weed For Warriors project, announced victory on a Change.org petition: “Kris has been released from jail, all felony charges have been dropped, and the remaining charges will be transferred to veterans court. It’s thanks to the outpouring of support from people like you that this was able to happen.”

Lewandowski’s story went viral thanks to widespread coverage in independent media, including MintPress News, which led to almost 20,000 signatures on the petition demanding his freedom. Another post on Facebook credited the assistance of Kansas lawyer Sarah Swain, who drove to Oklahoma to defend the veteran pro-bono.

Kris Lewandowski (left) poses with supporters and his lawyer Sarah Swain (middle) after the state dropped felony charges against him and he was freed from jail. (Facebook / The Weed For Warriors Project)

GERONIMO, OK –— A veteran of America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now faces life in prison for his attempts to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder with medical marijuana. His wife is pleading with the courts and media for leniency, fearing incarceration will take a father away from his children.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kristoffer Lewandowski served three tours of duty, including service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like at least 13% of Gulf War war veterans, Lewandowski suffers from PTSD and, also like many other veterans, he’s used medical marijuana to alleviate his symptoms. But Oklahoma, where he originally lived with his wife Whitney and three children, has some of the harshest penalties for cannabis in the United States, and only legally protects limited use of CBD oil for medical purposes.

The Lewandowski’s problems began in June of last year, when police were called to deal with an apparent domestic dispute that resulted from a flare up of his PTSD symptoms. When a search of his home turned up six marijuana plants, police and the local media treated it as a major bust.

“With children present this is a bad situation gone worse for the whole entire family,” Comanche County Sheriff Kenny Stradley told Oklahoma’s KSWO.

“They’re trying to use me as a victim and to make it look worse on his case,” Lewandowski told Donegan. “My husband has absolutely never laid his hands on me ever. He is not an abusive man, ever … quite the opposite. He is extremely doting.”

Kristoffer Lewandowski, pictured with his wife Whitney and child.

According to his wife, Kristoffer Lewandowski has never been offered domestic violence treatment or even drug rehabilitation by the state, but only jail time and a potential lifetime prison sentence. He sought out cannabis as a way to cut back on his ingestion of pharmaceutical drugs. “He was taking 13 pills a day, and it was just killing his liver. He was having all these issues with his body and he just wanted to try something more natural to just see if he could do without that many pills a day,” she said.

Free on bail, the family moved to California where Kristoffer easily obtained access to legal, medical marijuana. But last month, undercover police surprised Lewandowski with a guns drawn raid at his children’s preschool, leaving him in a cell awaiting extradition to Oklahoma. Supporters of the Lewandowski family created a petition asking for Kristoffer’s freedom and a Free Kris Facebook page, but GoFundMe recently shut down a crowdsourced legal defense fund.

Lewandowski’s struggle echoes another case highlighting the outrageous charges marijuana users and producers can face. Last year, 19-year old Jacob Lavoro, a resident of Round Rock, Texas, faced life in prison for making pot brownies, but ultimately accepted a plea deal for 7 years probation after protests and a global outcry on social media forced the state to reduce his charges.

We are all in danger when our government can lock good men in jail for minor offenses, dangerous to no one, when shooters roam our cities and our president wants to bring refugee terrorists into our country.

gene alderson

How many of the people calling for punishment ever served, If he is guilty of anything he should get probation, I really hate ARM CHAIR Patriots, signed Army Vet , during the Vietnam war , I would estimate at least 50 % of the soldiers smoked pot, or if in Germany hash, yeah , put us all in jail. and exactly how would that make it a better world ?

Joseph Edward Bodden

well, I imagine if they jailed all servicemen that use pot, our military would only be one third as large…

gene alderson

Well crowd, since we are way past the statute of limitations, this draftee in 1971, in our VW bug with my wife and daughter drove down the main street of Muskogee smoking a joint, the world did not end, I am still healthy after quitting around 30. The safety of the people was never in doubt, it was weak nasty Mexican weed, not like the good stuff we got in Key West, about 75 % percent of our unit smoked pot. So much for the health and safety risks of pot, the only real risk is the oppressive government. Banning alcohol did not work, it just helped a lot of criminals make a lot of money, the same goes for pot. They now have drug tests for people, George Orwell was right about the government, they listen to your phone calls and read your e-mails. 1984

Sometimes justice does amount to justice……this guy is a threat to no one……and the military should follow suit and drop ALL remaining charges……I don’t care if he was on active duty or not……I would rather he be calm and cool when suffering from PTSD……haven’t we seen enough of our sons and daughters kill themselves or end up in jail or prison because they can’t find anything that will calm their minds after what they have seen…….every generation of War has used some substance to calm their minds after being introduced to the atrocities one human can perpetrate on another……one of the first wars in this great country The Civil War its aftermath brought a sharp rise in morphine use……WWI and WWII had similar results and most sought alcohol……after the Vietnam War cannabis was seen as the go to for helping soldiers cope and relax the visions that often haunt them……what is more important a failed and destructive ideal of prohibition in ALL instances or the life of saving who was willing to give their very life for your freedom……it really is that simple…….

seems to me he got a california medical card to try and skirt the laws and make a big deal on what he already knows: Marijuana is illegal under UCMJ.

this guy is a dumbass.

Mother Hen

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. And the reason Gofund or whatever STOPPED the fund raiser was because he had a domestic violence charge against him (recall he chased his wife with a knife.) They served him his out papers from the USMC while he was in jail. I think they were done with him. And yes, UCMJ ACTION should be taking place.

John Bertrand

Apparently you have never had to watch a brothers head explode and torso go flying through the air. Then you have to clean it up, put it in a bag. Wash their left over gear for the next guy. Life after war is not all flowers and rays of sunshine.

Cache

I think your statement is misleading, what war were you in where you had to wash the gear for the next guy?

Sherrie Dunlap

No it’s not… Go read this book… Marines in the Garden of Eden: The True Story of Seven Bloody Days in Iraq Paperback – June 5, 2007
by Richard Lowry (Author)
My son was in that battle…and he had to scoop up some of his buddies’ blood and guts. What these young men see in battle… Maybe you can’t understand…but don’t diminish someone else’s experiences.

Sherrie Dunlap

I hope and pray things work out well for you. I watched my own Dad suffer from the effects of Vietnam and I watch the effects of Iraq and Afghanistan ravage my own son. PTSD is a horrible thing…but so was what you had to do. I’ve only heard a few stories from my son…the books I’ve read about the battles he was in during the invasion – some I couldn’t finish. God bless you, John…

Steven321123

Maybe serving 3 tours affects some people more than it does others. Instead of locking him up and throwing away the key, why don’t we do that thing Republicans are always talking about and actually trying to help this vet out. You guys are just looking for excuses to look down on somebody so you can feel morally superior.

Big banks launder drug money, Wahlgreen blackmarketed Oxy and no one was arrested. But a Vet self medicated with a substance that helps him and is safer than the poison his Drs prescribe and they throw the book at him. Total bs.

We’d all be better off if the police would focus is on crimes that have actual victims.

dirtsurfr

Regardless, the people that wanted him in prison should be taken to the street and beat like the dog they are!!!!!

Folks, you are missing the point here, it is not that the government was grateful, it was that conservatives are mean unrelenting and that is why he is in prison. Another more liberal state would not have even ticketed him, some it is even legal!.

My advice for anyone who NEEDS to use cannabis? Move to a legal state until yours wakes the heck up, that would have been my advice to him the moment he was out of the military.

Mother Hen

He wasn’t OUT of the military yet. He opted to do all this BEFORE he was granted his final papers, as he was served them WHILE he was in Jail. I wish we could get the transcripts, because I for one would like to know ALL of what happened.

Mother Hen

He wasn’t OUT of the military yet. He opted to do all this BEFORE he was granted his final papers, as he was served them WHILE he was in Jail. I wish we could get the transcripts, because I for one would like to know ALL of what happened.

Steven321123

And all that crap could have been avoided had we not privatized prisons and made our drug laws so Draconian. Not to mention start a contractor’s war.

Kenneth Karolchik-Griffin

conservative here, helped change marijuana laws in colorado. you are barking up the wrong tree as said below

Daniel Edington

This is no longer a Democrat or Republican caused problem…..this is just arrogance and an unwillingness to face some people were wrong and made the mistake of continuing to cannabis illegal…..how often have you ever seen a politician apologize and say he was wrong…..NEVER….even when they know they got caught dead to rights…..they squirt the issue and use semantics to never really apologize but blame it on some imaginary force…….

Daniel Edington

This is no longer a Democrat or Republican caused problem…..this is
just arrogance and an unwillingness to face some people were wrong and
made the mistake of continuing to keep cannabis illegal…..how often have
you ever seen a politician apologize and say he was
wrong…..NEVER….even when they know they got caught dead to
rights…..they skirt the issue and use semantics to never really
apologize but blame it on some imaginary force…….

I feel sorry for this veteran who gave his life for a fake war. I wish this country would wake up and prosecute W. Bush and Chaney for lying to the world about Saddam having WMD’s. The Va wants to fill this man full of poison pills. It makes me sick to my stomach. I have a hunch that it will be cheaper to kill these veterans with an over dose of opiates and benzos than to let them have access to marijuana.

Its relieving to see some people here see how corrupt and disgusting this is. I am a marine too and I hate having to take pills when a simple plant does far better with less damage to my health. Headlines like this make me regret my service. Those same people who would condemn THC are the same ones who drink alcohol yet fail to see the illogic with such judgment. So what is this guy suppose to do to treat the PTSD? drink? take more pills? Only in AmURica land of the “free” do Marines serve their country and are then jailed for doing something on their own “free” time which isn’t harming anyone. This is absolutely sickening.

America destroyed the mind of this man and now they are doing so again to his body. This is ridiculous. I am embarrassed that OK is still a part of the US. Shame on them.

sloth

Thanks for your service and your sacrifice now you will spend the rest of your young adult life in prison for using a simple weed to treat a very real disease brought on by your US govt. How can bit pharma be that important congress. Its time our politicians got new sponsors. How about the tax payers that pay their wages instead of big corporations that pay their bribes.

el grande bandito

Wow, unfreakinbelievable! Thanks Uncle Sam! Way to treat a veteran who risked his life so we can enjoy our freedoms!

blupill

im embarrassed to be from Oklahoma, they’re literally 2O years behind on their laws

HairyHerry

I’m in Oklahoma. This state has some of the most ridiculous laws (and legislators making them) on the planet. Governor Mary also drinks too much of the wrong Kool-Aid and carelessly passes some of the most stupid of them as submitted to her, complete with Emergency Clauses when such “emergencies” don’t actually exist. I never again will vote for her! I am also sick of the specific OHP troop causing motorists issues at the Colorado line on US 287, especially with vehicles with elderly occupants who can barely deal with the hot, arid climate there while it’s being searched through and through to find NOTHING! This state should have legalized medical marijuana long ago, and I’m signing the petition as I don’t want my tax $$ going to something totally useless as this situation would merit. Furthermore, I’m with those who opinionated that the family should move out to one of the legal pot states. At least where I live, few tornadoes lurk. They’re a convenient means to divert an Okie’s attention span.

-Move to a legal state and work from there to improve and protect the access of all patients

gene alderson

I worked outside in the winter, in the snow, doing construction inspection, plowing snow, efc , with cold wind blowing over the water, I wore long underwear, top and bottom, a hoody, and a coat with a hood over the hoodie and it was still cold, anyone who proposed to ban hoodies, obviously never worked a day in their life, except perhaps, being at a desk in heating or A/C, which some of us do not consider to be manly work. So that guy is just a punk.

Paul shurbet

Better get ready, there’s going to be a lot more vets in the same situation, they have taken our medications from us, we suppose to just sit. And wait? Nope, they will do what they have to do, to win. Go army

Shady420

whats the rest of the story? What are his charges? Why was he arrested if he was free on bail? Something isn’t adding up, and I am an advocate for responsible marijuana use.

LAVA MAN

active duty marine…using illegal drugs…if he wasn’t on active duty there would be no story, and he wouldn’t be facing punishment in a military court (UCMJ). It’s a nice cover up for an active duty/guard/reserve guy who used an illegal substance while being bound by the UCMJ.

Virgil Kane

How is it a cover up when just about every other media outlet mentions he was in the process of ETSing?

Cache

Missing the point he was still in the military. still bound by UCMJ, and still a active duty soldier until that date elapsed. There’s no middle ground here your in, your in.

rocket9244

he was growing pot where his kids lived. that is illegal and child endangerment. but smoking pot it is a totally different thing. maybe fine him a few grand for growing weed and probation for a year. then give him jail time if he endangers his kids again. as long as he smokes it where his kids cant come in contact with the second hand smoke, he should be allowed to smoke it. easier solution, do your probation and then get out of that state and move to wherever it is legal. then again, why all the attention about iraq/afghan soldiers with ptsd when there are millions who ” suffer” from that ” disease”? what about vets of other wars and normal everyday people?

Shogun

growing pot was endangering his kids? really? so i guess if his wife was growing some tomato plants, that would be endangering the kids as well? please explain to me how someone growing a plant in their home, is endangering their kids? so i guess everyone who has any kind of plants growing in their house should be arrested?

HairyHerry

Actually, to be truthful, if it’s a MonSatan patented veggie, it could endanger the kids, but with MonSatan in the money pockets of our useless politicians, well – you can guess the rest.

Shogun

yes true, word to the wise, stay far far away from monsatan. i just dont see how people can say simply growing a marijuana plant is endangering your children. its no different than any other plant.

KEVIN

yes it is. I’m not against the use of Cannabis and growing it, but it most certainly is NOT the same. Cannabis contains THC, which is psychoactive. other plants like the tomato plant is food. there’s a difference.

HairyHerry

But my point is quite simple… Something GMO is likely not going to be beneficial to your health. You will say that THC is bad for one’s health – right? I’m saying the same from something truly GMO which a multinational corporation that created Agent Orange will likely have an awful result, given time. It’s a matter of where the $$ goes!

Doug

Excuse me, but are you aware that a tomato plant can kill you if you eat the leaves? Cannabis cannot kill you, no matter how it is ingested. There are even house plants that are deadly to humans and animals. And by the way…Cannabis is food. Try doing a little research before you spout off Mr. Know It All!
.

KEVIN

hmm…eating the LEAVES of a tomato (i like the fruit itself) plant or EATING cannabis, haven’t done that yet. of course i toke plenty of cannabis, but i have yet to consume it i wonder what percentage of people do eat either of those?

i never said Cannabis could kill you btw. and i’m not against it’s legalization either, so maybe you could try not to call me childish names.

Shogun

okay, so please explain to me how having a cannabis plant is dangerous! im assuming your response is going to be “well what if your kids eat the buds and get high”, well that wont happen, marijuana needs to be heated up to cause decarboxylation, only then is marijuana psychoactive when eaten. you can eat a marijuana plant and not get high, it needs to go through that chemical reaction to get you high from eating it. so with that out of the way, how would it be dangerous?

you do i’m know for Cannabis legalization. i love it as much as anybody else, but i can’t pretend it’s perfect.

…looked up what you said, and you are right on. i retract my statement, and i hope it makes everyone happy

kevin_hunt

The leaves and stems of tomato plants contain the deadly chemical solanine, which can cause death if ingested by children. No part of the marijuana plant is toxic.

KEVIN

makes sense, you’ve made your point. i agree, you are correct. i retract my statement, and i hope it makes everyone happy

kevin_hunt

The leaves and stems of tomato plants contain the deadly chemical solanine, which can cause death if ingested by children. No part of the marijuana plant is toxic.

God of W4R

What if he had a bar in his house stocked with booze? Would you call that child endangerment? Of course you wouldn’t so it is equally as ignorant for you to say growing pot in his backyard is child endangerment. Especially when pot is way less poisonous and dangerous than alcohol. Actually, it’s even less dangerous than aspirin.

Right, let them rot their livers with “self-medication”, be so drugged that their memories and brains are fried or take or smoke cannabis that can be shaken off EASILY and does a WORLD of good for their bodies and minds.

What backwards crap have you been taught? Wow.

kevin_hunt

” why all the attention about iraq/afghan soldiers with ptsd”?

…because they suffer an abnormally high rate of that condition.

kevin_hunt

” why all the attention about iraq/afghan soldiers with ptsd”?

…because they suffer an abnormally high rate of that condition.

John Milton

Come on President Obama. Do something right for a veteran for once. Step in now and give the man an absolute pardon and end all this total waste of tax $$ and senseless abuse of a man who fought for our liberty only to be denied it for himself.

El Hajj

Stop trying to make everything Obama fault. You have to be convicted before you can get a pardon

John Milton

Who taught you the law? Was Nixon convicted of anything before he was pardoned by Ford?
Fault isn’t always the result of action, sometimes it is related to inaction. President Obama has been inactive in his support for active duty and veterans. Here is an opportunity for him to right an outrageous wrong with a simple swipe of his pen.

gene alderson

You know, I never thought that RICHARDS NIXONS PARDON was legal because he was not convicted yet, they called it a pardon, but it was actually a failure to prosecute, FORD LOST, good riddance.

Prejudice isn’t one party or one person, it’s a cumulative effect of what we are taught and what we accept.

I live in a “Democrat run” state where cannabis is legal – oh darn… but the Republicans aren’t all deaf and they can be convinced with real science and real world results.

It’s time to stop blaming a party and start blaming individual politicians whose knowledge is sadly lacking when it comes to what works and what DOES NOT.

derwolf

Another huge win for the War on Drugs!!!

paul jones

Barf

Robert Morley

What an “UNGRATEFUL” Government!! This man put his life on the line to defend and preserve OUR FREEDOM only to have his taken away but an UNGRATEFUL GOVERNMENT!! I say we send those same bastards into battle and let them make the same sacrifices he did!! Let’s see where they stand after that!!

1Archangel

Yes, an UNGRATEFUL Oklahoma Republican GOVERNMENT. All he had to do was move one state over and he could have have a grateful government allow him to smoke all he wants.

Robert Morley

Spoken like a true Tyrannical A-Hole!! Why should HE uproot himself while a “Bought & Paid For Government” deny the rights of a VET while maintaining the “Status Quot” of corruption!? Clearly you miss a VERY SALIENT point!! You also and obviously have forgotten that “We The People” ARE the government and not just The Republicans!!!!

Talk to a PERSON in any PARTY and you will see that their prejudiced or not views are different because of their indoctrination NOT because of facts or science.

We can change this if we try, even in “Republican” states – there are good and honest Independents and Republicans who are cannabis proponents and there will be more every single election cycle, find them, support them, VOTE for them.

storm_crow

From “PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program” (tandfonline- 2014) – “Results: Greater than 75% reduction in CAPS symptom scores were reported when patients
were using cannabis compared to when they were not.“

Israel has been using medical cannabis for PTSD for over a decade- see “Israel to soothe soldiers with marijuana” (newsmine). Isn’t it time the US caught up?

Factual

Marijuana does not destroy lives, our idiotic and ignorant system does! While the rich and the politician are immune from justice. Enough!!!!!

Mr. Awesome

He is a military veteran and has served his country in both wars! And this is what he volunteered and fought for? Oklahoma Government, get a grip and let this hero live his life. If anything, give him a pound or two and say “Thank You”!

JoeSchmoe

Oklahoma needs to do some soul searching, then thank the veteran for his service and drop the charges immediately.

JoeSchmoe

Oklahoma needs to do some soul searching, then thank the veteran for his service and drop the charges immediately.

harry

our gov’t sucks

harry

our gov’t sucks

Tristan Jason Ring

It would be okay if he was on a month long drinking binge but smoke a little marijuana and you face life in prison!
If anything we should want EVERY veteran with PTSD to be treated with marijuana! When’s the last time you heard about someone smoking out and walking in to a restaurant and shooting the place up?

Dredd

I could not agree more!

Dredd

I could not agree more!

Shogun

we should all be so glad to live in such a “free” country. freedom is illegal in he USA

Joseph Bollman

The illegal Mexicans have more rights that this U.S. Marine Corps Veterans does? He’s dealing with PTSD, and if it helps him cope with his PTSD, let him use it, as I’m on several drugs from the VA, and believe me, it doesn’t work, as even on all these medicines, I still have to deal with my PTSD in my life. Set Him Free!

Shogun

i hear ya, all the rights our ancestors fought so we could have, are being given to illegal immigrants, who are breaking laws by entering this country illegally. i have nothing against immigrants, ones that take the proper steps to become american citizens. but these illegals are bankrupting this country and our government just wants to keep giving them more and more. when as americans can we put all the conspiracy theory BS to the side and all come to agree, OUR GOVERNMENT IS CORRUPTED BEYOND REPAIR! they dont “serve” us anymore, they “rule” us, and thats not the way its supposed to be.

Leon Pfanenstiel

Note to Self: Stay away from Oklahoma.

Paul shurbet

It’s texas too

Leon Pfanenstiel

Paul, your absolutely right! My younger brother lives in El Paso, and I’m in WA about 30mi south of Seattle. He keeps trying to get me to move to TX, and I ask: Why would I do that? I’m growing 30 plants this year legally, and I have 9 gold mining claims up here. They don’t have good gold in TX, and as my Sister-in-law says, “One plant= 99 years”, she’s Pilipino. Washington is a good state to be in if you have an interest in pot, it’s also legal both recreationally and medically in Oregon. Washington is trying to restructure Medical Pot, but for now you can grow three scripts, or 45 plants, in a joint grow, as long as everyone is a MMJ card holder. As long as you try to do the right thing, your fine. I keep myself in pot/hash, and usually give the rest away to MMJ penitents that can use it.

Then get involved in SAVING Medical Cannabis from the GOONS in Olympia who are breaking the Washington State Constitution in half by putting the REC law for cannabis OVER and ILLEGALLY over the Medical Compassion law that was passed in 1998.

Article II

Section 19

Washington STATE Constitution

BILL TO CONTAIN ONE SUBJECT. No bill shall embrace more than one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.

We need more Independents and those who believe in the reality of our Constitutions, both state and federal, to move to states where both in danger and both have massive support FROM its citizens even if it doesn’t from our “leaders”.

Leon Pfanenstiel

Moirrainefortruth, Better yet, when they wrote I-502 it specifically states Recreational Pot will have nothing to do with Medical Pot, and they’ve violated that clause. Technically they shouldn’t even mention the two in the same sentence. Once they make their silly little rules into law they are screwed, then it’s time to sue, and shut down recreational pot. They violated I-502 from the start when they went to the medical pot growers for advice. Then, when they gave the growers their licenses to grow they gave them two weeks from the date their license was issued to buy plants that didn’t have to be accounted for. Where do you think the plants came from? Medical growers. I know someone with medical paperwork that’s supplying the growers with plants, and they have a minimum of 3500 plants at any given time, and the state turns a blind eye. Not only is that a violation of I-502, it’s also a violation of federal law, and the state is condoning it. And here’s another point. If you follow their rules and register you’re allowed what 6 plants, and 3 ounces? The first time you harvest 6 plants you’re illegal because you’ll have over 3 ounces. The state can’t make laws that they know people will break by trying to be legal, it’s a set-up and they can’t do that. Their greed will be their downfall, and if I-502 gets shut down that opens the door for all the growers, processors, and retail stores to sue the state. They don’t want that kind of accountability. So, when their rules become law we need to hit them from all sides, make them feel surrounded.

It’s not just one law that is being abused, it is many, and the damage is almost incalculable.

Leon Pfanenstiel

Yep, it’s time to start writing letters. If we give them a heads up they are about to get sued, and the grounds for the suit they will have no excuses for not resolving the problem before it go’s to court. It makes them look worse, and us look better if they don’t act on it. I’m growing two scripts this season, and the person that has one of the scripts has a daughter-in-law that works with the LCB doing licensing for the Recreational Pot people. Maybe it’s time to use that resource.

Texas, Oklahoma and many other states are insanely run by those who have bad educations, bad information and bad “aides” and others who don’t set course corrections for issues like this one.

Grow up Americans, your leaders are not listening, time to really replace them and start over.

scott

YEP THAT IS WHY YOU ARE CALLED OKIE’S FRICKIN BACKWARDS THINKING COUSIN MINGLING MUST HAVE STUNTED YOUR BRAIN GROWTH

Kathy Bayles

Well, pot seems to help everyone else with all kinds of problems that doctors can’t cure, so my word is:
In my opinion, Oklahoma needs to lighten up. From what I have heard from family, and read, Oklahoma has many serious problems that needs taken care of and laws that need to be changed.

Anne

STILL putting people away for YEARS for WEED? How dumb are those legislators in Oklahoma? How much do their “weed” laws cost the taxpayers in Oklahoma for the cost of investigation, arrest, trial and prison? BOY are THEY DUMB——————–

Simon James

Leave it to Captains Doughnut to enforce the will of the 1% and their political stooges.

Simon James

Beer and liquor interests also want to see weed kept illegal no matter how many families must be destroyed in “Free” America.

Shogun

we are not free in america, not even close to it. anyone who thinks we are needs a serious reality check. our government no longer serves the people, they rule them. america is not supposed to be like this.

CORavensFan

There is no doubt in mind mind that pharmaceutical companies are giving some major bucks to politicians to keep marijuana an illegal drug. Just in this case alone – he was taking 13 pills a day and didn’t need them with the use of medical marijuana. That’s a lot of money that pharmaceutical companies will be missing out on.

jontomas

I escaped Oklahoma years ago, primarily for this reason. – Every marijuana consumer should get out ASAP! – This will cause already dysfunctional Oklahoma to collapse as they experience the drain of the few good brains they have left.

jacquesdaspy

ALL veterans should leave Oklahoma in support of their broken brothers.

derwolf

The other option would be to stay, and fight for what you believe in..to change what is wrong, and unjust..but, running away has a beauty all its own I guess.

jontomas

The same could be said of Jewish people who fled Germany. Every person has to decide for themselves what the best plan of action is. – After 40 years of being persecuted by my government for choosing near harmless marijuana over addictive, very harmful alcohol – AND being a reform activist, I believe I, and many, deserve to live in a Free State.

Further, you can do more effective activism from a Free State, since you don’t have to worry that what you say may get you thrown in jail.

paul jones

Fight or flight ?In this case more would be done if a large number of like minded people left !Or they could stay and face a bunch of idiots , and end up in prison with a bloody nose !

derwolf

Which is more likely to happen, and create change? Name one time running from the problem has solved it on a political level. For instance…I stay in California and fight for my/everyone’s 2nd Amendment rights. Others have fled, making the fight that much harder by limiting our voting potential. In regards to drugs, I find it odd California wasn’t the first to legalize recreational Cannabis, but then all the laws here that have come up have been horrible for the/us growers..; ) Who fight against full legalization, and industrialization of our industry.

L.a. Roxx

Possession of marijuana=Possession of a beer. What’s the problem?

iamanunhappyvoter

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kristoffer Lewandowski is not the problem, Oklahoma is the problem.

storm_crow

AMEN! Using an effective herbal medicine for PTSD (and much more) should not be a crime!

valleevue

I wanna grow my tomatoes, peppers,and leafy greens………as well as my own medicines ,relaxants and intoxicants.

Shogun

government in general is the problem. they dont have americans interests at hand. they’re corrupted beyond repair and only serve themselves and special interest groups who give them tons of money. wake up america, we are NOT free!

Victor Crocco

Why does anybody want to live in that God forsaken State Oklahoma. It is ugly the people are mean. They want to put you in a box for life for using a plant for medicine. Oklahoma is a harsh State with harsh people and if you live there expect the consequences. These are Southern Baptists on steroids and they mean business so just move to Colorado where the State is beautiful and the people are wonderful.

Mr. Awesome

And don’t forget the pot is great too!

Thomas Graham

With 22 veteran suicides daily, our elected leaders are still unable or unwilling to do the right thing. 22 veteran suicides every day has been insufficient to shock them into action. Perhaps if those 22 veterans were to deposit their brains all over the Washington monument each day we would get some action. “Sad,” “unfortunate,” and “unjust” doesn’t cause change. Change seems to require either a billionaire, or something really gory. When it’s my turn I’ll try to keep the team in mind.

storm_crow

“Medical Marijuana Cuts Suicide Rates By 10% In Years Following Legalization” (Medical Daily – 2014). “States With MEDlCAL MARlJUANA Laws Have Fewer Opioid Overdose Deaths” (TIME – 2014). “PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program” (tandfonline- 2014) – “Results: Greater than 75% reduction in CAPS symptom scores were reported when patients were using cannabis compared to when they were not.“

With over 8,000 of our veterans dying of suicide every year, it is time to LEGALIZE CANNABIS!

John Pappas

Let’s see: The sheriff of San Francisco won’t work with ICE and deport convicted felons allowing one of them to obtain a firearm (that was owned by a federal agent and somehow lost ??) which is used to murder a beautiful young lady and this dog poo sheriff from Comanche County, OK wants to persecute a war veteran. Hmmmm . . . . The person who commented and said that those who care MUST swamp the sheriff’s offices and courts with protest was entirely correct. I will be making my call(s) today. Hopefully thousands and thousands more will follow. (Oh, and puleeze, those who will attack my punctuation, I am perfectly able to capitalize words when the person / entity deserve such respect.) Stay tuned, there is more, much – much more coming very soon about the sheriff and district attorney in Orange County California soon.

bearass

Our government does not give a damn about our veterans and this is the tell.

Brad Franklin Blackstone

ya mean OKLAHOMA

bearass

Yes. Oklahoma, where the wing goes whipping across the plane and they don’t give a damn about our war veterans.

jacquesdaspy

The Federal Government is not much better.

storm_crow

FYI- The Federal government runs a MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM and has done so for decades! See “4 Americans get medical pot from the feds” (CBS News), “In decades-old program, Uncle Sam provides pot” (MSNBC) and “Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program” (MAPS) for the details. And all the while the government has been busting us and claiming cannabis has NO medical uses!

Shogun

government is the root of all our problems. government has grown too big and out of control. they dont care about us citizens, they only care about filling their pockets. how cant americans see this?

storm_crow

Israel has been giving medical cannabis to its soldiers for PTSD for over a decade now! Isn’t it time we caught up? “Israel to soothe soldiers with marijuana” (newsmine- 2004).

Shogun

our government doesnt give a damn about any of us! when will americans wake up and see the truth? our government RULES us, it does not SERVE us. everything the founding fathers warned us about has come true. and we as americans sit back and do absolutely nothing. our founders are rolling in their graves.

Kenneth Shamburger

The man risk his life for this country and look what this state is doing to him knowing he has an issue due to his military service to this country.
Sad…

Legalize Cannabis! At the VERY LEAST make Cannabis available for medical purposes! The FED knows it works!! But then again, when does the FED EVER do a damn thing the people want?

Grand Pri

If all the commenters here filled the court room, phone hammered the sheriff and the prosecutors office then change will happen, we MUST stand up and shout out that this is WRONG!!!

Grand Pri

The America I was sold has always treated its veterans like dog piles, yep we do. And it’s a heart breaking crime. But what is more of a crime is law enforcement who may have also served in the military persecuting one of their own.

Sheriff Kenny Stradley is the stinkiest part of that dog pile, he should be publicly shamed.

Marijuana has never caused as much public safety concerns as law enforcement and the military. This is one of the points that clearly identifies persecution of personal liberties (his choice to consume marijuana) is the governments war against its citizens, not a drug war.

It should be a right ! God has nothing to do with anything on this page.

Steve Harris

Okm A Human Right. Fixed ok?

Daniel E. Smith

Still putting people in JAIL over a LIE,,,, the law against pot IS illegal ,,, ITS based on LIES only…. WAKE UP PEOPLE of this United States of America, Make a STAND, Make the Government TELL the truth,,,, POT is SAFE,,,,,,,

Steve Harris

I have sent so many emails to the Arkansas GOV that by now I am on their hate list! I always get the same canned reply, “Marijuana does not have any Medical value!” What a joke! These stupid people are stuck in the REEFER MADNESS era! It’s time for them to use a small portion of their PEA BRAIN and do some research on Cannabis!!

storm_crow

Steve, did you know that the federal government has a Medical Cannabis program going on and that they have run it for DECADES? See “4 Americans get medical pot from the feds” (CBS News), “In decades-old program, Uncle Sam provides pot” (MSNBC) and “Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program” (MAPS) for the details.

Now about those emails, first off THANK YOU for actually doing something! And the emails might be more effective if you started adding quotes like these to back yourself up-

From “PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis
Program” (tandfonline- 2014) – “Results: Greater than 75% reduction in CAPS symptom scores were reported when patients were using cannabis compared to when they were not.“

“Report of a parent survey of cannabidiol-enriched cannabis use in pediatric treatment-resistant epilepsy” (PubMed – 2013) from the abstract – “Sixteen (84%) of the 19 parents reported a reduction in their child’s seizure frequency while taking cannabidiol-enriched cannabis. Of these, two (11%) reported complete seizure freedom, eight (42%) reported a greater than 80% reduction in seizure frequency, and six (32%) reported a 25–60% seizure reduction. Other beneficial effects included increased alertness, better mood, and improved sleep.”

“THC blocks an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which speeds the formation of amyloid plaque in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s drugs Aricept and Cognex work by blocking acetylcholinesterase. When tested at double the concentration of THC, Aricept blocked plaque formation only 22% as well as THC, and Cognex blocked plaque formation only 7% as well as THC.” From “Marijuana May Slow Alzheimer’s” WebMD.

Many more studies and articles on how cannabis heals can be found by running a search for the 2015 version of “Granny Storm Crow’s List”- free online and on Facebook.

Steve Harris

Yes I know. The old man Bush did away with it from what I heard. Like I said, I wish I could afford to move to CO or somewhere with MMJ as an option. Really sick of taking Oxy every day for pain. It just ticks me off that the fed has made this a for profit game instead of for medical value to the people. Not just the one’s that get to steal (seize) peoples property and cash. Not to mention the for profit prison system we have now! Thanks for the reply. Have a great day.

storm_crow

The program is closed to any new patients, but it is still on-going! I had the pleasure of once meeting Elvy Mussika who is one of the last remaining patients in the study. There are a LOT of us working toward getting sane laws passed federally. 2016 will be an interesting year!

Steve Harris

The lucky few that actually HAD a choice!

Freeky Fried

The America I was sold doesn’t imprison its citizens for a wild plant.

Where the F^&* are we?!?

Steve Harris

A very small portion of people know whats best for a very large portion of the people! Legalize Cannabis and there would (should) not be any more OD’s on pain pills! Oh but wait, Big Pharma would not like that! That would cut (deeply) into their profit. Whats a few lives, as long as they keep making BILLIONS in profit!!

J.M.C .

Don’t know why he went to California to get his weed I live in Ok and we got a lot of real good weed here just as good as the medical……I moved here from Michigan and this state is WHACK!!!!!!!!

Herb Sojourner

The hypocritical Pharisees of Oklahoma who pretend to serve God are criminals of the worse sort – they use God as an excuse for their crimes against humanity. Woe to them!

1Archangel

Ok, so maybe this fool should not live in that state! I know try Colorado!

Steve Harris

A lot of people do not have the funds to move. Like me! So I am stuck in Arkansas taking pain pill for my Nerve Damage. Sooo much safer than MMJ in their eyes!

One would get the impression that these backwoods hillbillys ain`t never read bill of rights. But they know their gun rights

Brent Miley

FFS sooners evolve already.

valleevue

When I was a young man in New York City in the 1950’s and then for a time later I would walk past “Skid Rows” .The most populated was The Bowery .Many of the men I would find out later were WW2, Korean, and then Viet Nam Veterans . I know now that many a guy nicknamed “G.I Joe” and who were labeled “Drunkin’ Bums” by society were most likely to be suffering from P.T.S.D.. Cannabis has been intertwined with the stigma of un patriotism,criminality, and “Dope Use” … while men and women are hurting themselves . Many who I see opposed are “Nanny ,War hawks types”, who never served and many use alcohol as a coping drug themselves. Legalize don’t criminalize and stigmatize . Let us stop calling cannabis “Dope” reserving that term for the heroin and meth epidemic .

ageless

But, but, but Oklahoma and Kansas both support the troops.
If you believe there is a bridge for sale in Alaska then you will believe anything.

valleevue

Support them as veterans as wounded warriors who want to choose their own medicine .Who want to safely find relief …..SAFELY. Many psychiatric medications ironically cause depression and suicidal thoughts or worse . Using the traditional drug alcohol also is dangerous especially when taken with medication being that it enhances depression. Old traditions don’t always mean healthy traditions.

storm_crow

Cannabis, on the other hand, does this- “Greater than 75% reduction in CAPS symptom scores were reported when patients were using cannabis compared to when they were not.“ From “PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program” (tandfonline- 2014).

Cannabis is no harder to grow than tomatoes and gardening is soothing on its own.

AngryWhiteFemale

I just signed the petition at change.org. It’s highlighted in the article here. Let this soldier heal and live in peace!

Joseph Bollman

THAT’S TOTALLY BULLSHIT! I DEAL WITH PTSD MYSELF, AND IF MEDICAL MARY JANE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR PTSD, THEN IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR THIS PROUD MARINE CORPS VETERAN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY TO USE IT PERIOD, SINCE THE LAWS AGAINST MARIJUANA IS CHANGING THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY! USMC 1968 TO 1975 – VIETNAM 1969, AND 1970-71 SEMPER FI

FHRITP

Oklahoma and Kansas both ought to get with the times. True Texas is the embarassing armpit of my United States, but OK and KS are my country’s bad breath.

Girliegirl2012

You have got to be kidding me? Really? God, he and his family should have moved to Colorado as soon as it became legal to avoid all this mess. Oklahoma needs to get real. This guy doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.
For crying out loud!
State laws in Oklahoma need their Legislative Representatives to go to bat for the people of the state! Wow!

Mike De

This story absolutely disgusts me. How is it right to treat people this way? If I were a cop I wouldn’t enforce marijuana laws.

And any cop that supports the drug war is a bad cop. The drug war has turned our police forces into criminals. Oklahoma, Kansas, and all of the rest of these red states, are nothing but a hellhole for any modern man or woman. Anyone that wants to live a decent life should NOT live in red states where idiot hayseeds are making bad laws on a continual basis.

Brad Franklin Blackstone

idiot okies?

malcolmkyle

Prohibitionists are neither civil nor productive members of society, they are soulless parasites — inhuman, oppressive criminals from whom protection is required.

Prohibition is an absolute scourge —The End! The use of drugs is NOT the real problem, the system that grants exclusive distribution rights to violent cartels and terrorists IS.

If you support prohibition then you support bank-rolling criminals and terrorists. There’s simply no other logical way of looking at it.

dubinsky

which ashhole says that he’s facing life in prison and why isn’t there anything to substantiate that crap in the story?

the MintPress News Desk aint worth an ounce of dog turds

============

GERONIMO, Okla._What started out as a call on a domestic disturbance complaint for Comanche County Sheriff’s deputies, turned into a major pot bust in the county.

Deputies responded to a home on Arapaho Street in Geronimo around 10:00 p.m. Sunday after 32-year-old Kristoffer Lewandowski was seen chasing his wife with a knife. After barricading himself in his home, he ultimately surrendered. That’s when nine marijuana plants were found growing on the property.

“This is a rare deal. Usually you just go out to a domestic and you just take care of the situation,” explained Comanche County Sheriff Kenny Stradley.

Sheriff Stradley said it was clear from the get-go that Sunday night’s call was anything but typical.

“The individual supposedly chased his wife with a knife and she went next door to a neighbor. They went to the door, he was inside the house, he first wouldn’t come out. We thought he had a gun,” said Stradley.

Once Lewandowski surrendered and came out of this house, that’s when sheriff’s deputies went inside. All it took was one look around the home for officers to realize they were dealing with a more serious situation.

Its in the headline, they need to hold your hand to understand the law? Guess you hate lawyers too, but yet are to too dumb to understand the laws. Oklahoma is a crap hole!

dubinsky

thank you, but I can read and understand what I’ve read.

it is indeed in the headline….but it’s not substantiated in the bosy of the story.

Beerkin

F’ing pigs. God i hate cops.

Vincent Hammons

can we blow oklahomo off the map?

jamminjjs

We should just use the who state for fracking, and let the tornados and earthquakes finish the job.

Julie Moore

I’d get the heck out of that state… Plus refuse to serve the corrupt people and their corrupt country (ie what matters to those in charge).

Julie Moore

wow really you send a person to war for the elite corrupt bastards to get rich and then when he gets sick and tries to treat and help himself with something that don’t cause liver failure or cancer like most the rx drugs do and you throw him in jail after sending him to war for you for how long???

Bob Mylow

Cannabis one of the safest treatment options known to man. It’s demonized for the same possible side effects that every FDA approved PTSD drug are also known to have. No prescribed PTSD drug was ever meant to be a life long or even meant for more than a few years. End the senseless war on drugs. No American serviceman should become a POW in his own country.

Resource exploitation, military occupation and so-called “anti-terror” efforts led by Western countries are destabilizing several countries in Africa, leading to widespread starvation and sickness for millions of people. Famine has become a daily fact of life for many in Somalia, South Sudan and elsewhere in Africa.

Iraqi agriculture expert Dr. Nakd Altameemi joins Mnar Muhawesh on ‘Behind the Headline’ to discuss the devastating toll that war, sanctions and Western corporations have had on Iraq’s centuries-old agricultural traditions.

Rania Khalek, an independent journalist who has been blacklisted for her recent reports on Syria, joins Mnar Muhawesh on ‘Behind the Headline’ to discuss the silencing of journalists who oppose the mainstream media’s pro-war agenda.

As an unprecedented wave of outrage swells against the Trump administration, Mnar Muhawesh, host of ‘Behind the Headline,’ wonders why people weren’t more outraged with Obama’s policies on mass surveillance, whistleblowers, and war.